Ugly Cookies and Shania Twain!

Welcome friends! Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting NatashaInOz.com. Why don't you get yourself a nice cup of tea and relax for a while!

Has your life been as Unbelievably busy as mine lately? I feel as though I have been racing around like a mad thing all week! I have had to do some substitute teaching (there must be lots of sick teachers around....flu season has obviously arrived!), I have had to help my kids with homework, do the usual household duties, cook, go marketing and manage the family....I seemed to be everywhere for everyone this week....perhaps you could say I have been rather Ubiquitous!!!

I have also been helping Master A (who would like to be known as Big Al from now on...part of his new Blog persona!) with some physiotherapy on his arm after fracturing his Ulna (click here if you would like to read about his injury!) and I have been helping Miss M (who would now like to be known as Maddy as part of her Blog persona!) study for exams and prepare for her final debate of the year.

I don't know about you but when I am feeling stressed and I need to relax, I listen to some music and head to the kitchen...not to eat but to bake and cook! Yesterday I decided to make some cookies, but not just any old cookies....

I made Chocolate Uglies!

I know the name of these cookies is a bit Undesirable but my family will Unequivocally agree with me that these cookies are Delicious! To make these Ugly cookies you will need one stick or 115 grams or 8 tablespoons of butter, 200 grams or 8 oz of dark chocolate, 50 grams or 2 oz of chopped unsweetened chocolate and 1cup of white chocolate chips.

You will also need 3 eggs,3/4 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 11/2 cups of self-rising flour (or you can use plain flour and add 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder) and a pinch of salt.

First set your oven to 350F or 180C and line 3 baking trays with baking paper. In the top part of a double boiler, over hot, not simmering, water, melt the butter with the chocolate. Remove from heat, and let stand until tepid, about 10 minutes. You can also take the quick option and melt them very slowly on low heat in the microwave...that is how I did it!

Using a hand-held mixer set at high speed, beat the eggs and sugar for about 2 minutes, until light and foamy.

Beat in the vanilla and chocolate mixture, just until blended. Stir in the flour, baking powder if you are using it and salt. Then stir in the white choc chips.

Now, at this stage you might be looking at this runny batter and panicking-don't! It is meant to be a bit runny. Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough about 1 inch apart, on the prepared baking sheets for a fudgy and flat cookie, or refrigerate the dough for a couple hours for a puffier cookie that doesn't spread as much.

I added some sprinkles to some...to make the uglies a bit prettier!

Bake the cookies for about 10 to 12 minutes or until they’re slightly cracked. The cookie needs to remain soft and gooey inside.

The whole family loved these cookies!

I love this recipe and I know that my family will want me to make these again! I also loved singing along to some of my favourite songs as I cooked. One song I love to play when I need to lift my spirits is "Up" by Shania Twain.

When everything is goin' wrong

Don't worry, it won't last for long

Yeah, it's all gonna come around

Don't go let it get you down

You gotta keep on holding on

I hope you enjoy listening to "Up" and don't forget to come back to hear some more great music on Sunday when I host Tuesday Tune

I Hope your day is fabulous and thanks again for spending time with me today-I love it when friends drop by!

Best wishes,

Natasha In Oz 

If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do. Lucille Ball.